Rabbi's Column - Summer 2024

Dear Friends,

In these days of division and strife, I’d like to share with you something that gives me tremendous hope: our young people.

Many of you joined us recently for a conversation with Yale Hillel’s executive director Uri Cohen. Uri is professional, insightful, and strategic. He reflected on this spring’s tumult on college campuses, explaining his journey to being a trusted partner and voice for Yale’s Jewish students in the highest levels of the university’s administration.

But most impressive of all were our college students (who attend schools around the country). They spoke with honesty and passion about experiencing a challenging year on campus. Each of these six young people eloquently conveyed their Jewish pride and their standing up to antisemitism. Like many Jews in their generational cohort, they do not believe that they have to choose between safety for Israelis and justice for Palestinians. This is all the more impressive given that campus culture so often screams the opposite message in their faces. Their ability to hold many difficult emotions and truths while still being confident in who they are is a total inspiration. Kol HaKavod — well done. Thank you to Kulanu for organizing this deeply meaningful evening.

Just a few days later came Shavuot, and we celebrated the confirmation of three special 10th-graders. They were called to the Torah to read the ten commandments, and each of them shared reflections on the year of learning. Unsurprisingly, they all spoke about the Israel-Hamas war, since Israel’s history has been the main focus of our year of study. They, too, conveyed their Jewish pride and their commitment to proceed into the next chapter of their lives with critical thought, conscience, and confidence and who they are. They spoke about BBYO, the international youth movement of which SALTY is part. They spoke about their special experience in our religious school. They are positioned to be leaders and builders of the Jewish future. As a rabbi, there’s nothing that makes me prouder.

By now it should be abundantly clear that we have some special young people here at TBT, and of course that is because we have special families. Families who choose to opt-in to Judaism in spite of the societal forces that challenge that decision. Families who choose learning and dialogue over the need to ‘be right.’ I love about our congregation that we can listen to one another and engage in difficult decisions with civility and curiosity. Throughout the last several years of my serving TBT, I have seen our teens model this time and time again.

My year serving as teacher to our teens is also a reminder that what’s going on in the news is not necessarily all that’s going on in the world. Headlines, whether about events in the middle east or on domestic college campuses, tend to be driven by all that is ugly. This is the most basic way that bias can creep into news coverage. But behind the headlines, there is a lot of unreported goodness and basic decency. There are the actions of rodfei shalom (Psalms 43.15) — pursuers of peace. Our young people are pursuers of peace. We should listen to them. They are leading us.

Shalom,
Rabbi Moss

President's Column - Summer 2024

Dear TBT Family,

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Josh Broder, and I am deeply humbled and honored to begin my tenure as your President of Temple Beth Tikvah. Allow me to share a bit about myself and my journey to this momentous role.

I grew up in Waterbury, Connecticut, where my entire family has roots. My mother attended Temple Israel (Reform), and my father was a member of Beth El (Conservative), which is where I spent my formative years. Although Beth El no longer exists and has since been replaced by a Yeshivah, the memories and values instilled in me there remain vibrant.

My brother and I attended Ezra Academy, a Schechter day school in Woodbridge, CT (K-8), which profoundly shaped us both religiously and secularly. Our 8th grade class trips to Israel in the 1990s were particularly transformative. Inspired by seeing her sons receive a strong Jewish education, my mother, who grew up in the Reform Movement in the 1950s and early 1960s, had an adult Bat Mitzvah in her 40s. Remarkably, her tutor was Cantor Irving Pinsky, the same person who helped me prepare for my Bar Mitzvah in 1993.

After graduating from Ezra Academy, I attended Holy Cross High School in Waterbury. It was a stark contrast, as I was the only Jewish student there. This experience broadened my perspective, preparing me for the diverse world beyond the sheltered environment of Ezra.

I then pursued my studies at UConn, majoring in accounting. During my time there, I became an active member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity (AEPi). In my final year, I served as an undergraduate supreme governor on the international board of directors, visiting chapters nationwide and advocating for Jewish students' rights on college campuses. My involvement with AEPi continues to this day, and many of my closest friends are brothers from those memorable years in Storrs, CT.

In 2003, I began my career as a financial advisor with what was then American Express Financial Advisors, now Ameriprise Financial. Today, I own and run a large franchise called Centurion Wealth Management, with offices in Cheshire, North Haven, and Dayton, OH. Our team of 11 is dedicated to helping clients achieve their financial dreams.

On a personal note, my wife Alison and I were members of CBSRZ for five years before joining TBT in 2016, as our son Cooper prepared to start religious school. Cooper will become a Bar Mitzvah on September 7, later this year. We love traveling the world, and I enjoy sports, fast cars, and cooking for friends and family.

In Karen Goldberg’s last column as President of TBT, she mentioned Al Goldberg’s wise words: you don’t have to know how to do everything in this position; you just need to surround yourself with others who do and are willing to help. This philosophy guided me in assembling our new Board of Trustees for the next two years. We have a diverse and talented group—new to the board, new to the shul, younger, older, male, female—who will work together to make our community the best it can be.

TBT is a place where everyone feels welcome, without constraints to joining, where all are treated as equals, and our shared bond of Judaism unites us in faith, prayer, community, and love. I pledge to uphold these values and traditions and encourage everyone to get involved in ways that resonate with you—whether through committees, special events, religious school, preschool, adult education, Kesher groups. If there is something you feel is missing, please let me know so we can work together to make it a reality.

Thank you for your confidence in me. Please do not hesitate to reach out for anything you need moving forward.

Todah rabah meod (thank you very much)!

Warm regards,

Josh Broder, President, Temple Beth Tikvah

Temple Educator's Column - Summer 2024

Our first day of classes will be Sunday, September 8!

Returning Students are enrolled for Religious School already!

We are doing enrollment for returning students a little differently this year. We are assuming they are all coming back, so we are saving you the hassle of filling out a lot of forms with information that is the same as it ever was.

You should have already received a personal email from me where I will explain this more fully. And I will ask for some information we may not already have, like your child’s Hebrew name, any new information about special learning needs, changes in the family, etc.

Billing happens later in the summer and will happen automatically. If for some reason your child is not coming back to us, that email will explain the process for making that happen as well. It is important to know how many students we will have in each grade as early as possible, so we can make sure to have the correct number of trained teachers!

For children who have not been enrolled in Religious School before…

We will need you to complete a basic form in addition to the one described above. If you have a child who is ready to enroll for the first time this fall, and have not gotten an email from me, I apologize. We are still getting some of the kinks out of our new data base. Please reach out to me at rsdirector@tbtshoreline.org

And we are still looking a for a few good people…

Each year, we find that a few of our wonderful teachers move on to other amazing things. We wish them well! At the same time, we have lots of amazing kids who need teachers to create wonderful learning experiences.

There are three requirements for all of our positions, and one additional requirement for some our positions. To teach in the TBT Religious School you MUST:

1. Love being Jewish and have or develop a passion for transmitting that love to others.

2. Know how to listen. Teaching is as much about listening to our kids and hearing what is on their minds and in their hearts. There is no need for lectures or speeches!

3. Like kids!

Some of our teaching roles require some level of Hebrew skill as well. The more the better.

If you are a professional educator, that is wonderful, but it is not required. We have a temple educator whose job is to help teachers develop a teaching repertoire. If you are very knowledgeable about Judaism and all of the topics that entails, that is wonderful, but it is not required. I can help you with that.

We have amazing teachers who come to TBT just for Religious School. We also have amazing teachers who are members of TBT and serve as living examples. Please contact me at rsdirector@tbtshoreline.org or on my cell 203-727-2831. Let’s talk about what being a teacher might be like for you. And if you are only interested in getting your feet wet by starting out as a substitute, that would also be amazing. Reach out, please.

L'shalom,
Ira Wise

Rabbi's Column - June 2024

Dear Friends,

I invite all my B'nai Mitzvah students to ask me a "big question" that would be hard for ChatGPT to answer. Recently, Levi A. asked, "What do you think would happen if the Jews were to lose Israel?" This is a sad, difficult, and very important question. I told Levi as much, and so I'm sharing a few reflections here, too.

Over its 76-year history, Israel has faced numerous threats. Every war triggers existential fears. Israel's existence has never been assured, which is why it has built one of the strongest armies in the world.

Israel is still a young country. If we look back 3000 years to King Solomon and the first Temple in Jerusalem, 1948 to 2024 constitutes only about 2% of Jewish history. We lost control of Israel when the Romans destroyed the Temple 2000 years ago, leading to centuries of exile.

Exile wasn't just a geographical reality; it was a profound sorrow we carried for centuries. The book of Psalms reflects this in a poem from the first exile to Babylonia: "By the Waters of Babylon/There we sat down/And we wept/As we remembered Zion….If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my hand wither…” (Psalms 137).

Later Jewish texts also reflect this yearning. One Midrash explains that when the Temple was destroyed, God went into exile too, departing Jerusalem and the presence of our people.

For almost 2000 years, Jews dreamed of returning to our homeland. This longing was embedded in daily life: in prayers for the rebuilding of Jerusalem, in facing East during prayer, in breaking a glass at weddings to recall the Temple's destruction. The land of Israel is central to Jewish history and identity.

Can you imagine if your home, livelihood, and every routine disappeared in an instant? It's hard to relate to this feeling today, which is a good thing: it shows how comfortable we have been in the United States.

At my summer camp, we had an activity on Tisha Ba’av, the saddest Jewish holiday when we mourn the destruction of the Temples and other catastrophes. Campers spent an hour building intricate gingerbread houses, which the counselor suddenly trampled to the ground. It was an attempt to invite us to consider the feelings that accompany the loss of home, identity, and way of life. (However misguided from a 2024 perspective…)

In exile, Jews lived at the whim of mercurial leaders. The Purim story dramatizes this: an evil minister plots to destroy the Jews by manipulating the king. While likely a work of fiction, the story reflects the reality of how quickly fortunes could change for Jews.

Our  ancestors  were  exiled  from  many  lands:  Italy,  Egypt,  Spain,  Portugal,  England,  Russia, Switzerland, North Africa...the list goes on and on.  By the 1800s, Jews became citizens of modern nation-states like France and Germany, finally gaining equal rights. Many believed our tragic history was over.

Then came Hitler. Germany, the paradigm of a modern, civilized society, proved that modernity did not guarantee safety. To the contrary: it guaranteed that the dangers we faced were greater than ever before.

This context is the backdrop of Levi's question. Throughout history, Jews have faced discrimination, draconian restrictions, expulsions, forced conversions, and murder. Facing blood libels, pogroms, and unending antisemitic conspiracies, Jewish dreamers across Europe came to believe that returning to our homeland was the only solution. The State of Israel was conceived as a safe haven for Jews worldwide, a modern political solution to an ancient problem. That, simply stated, is Zionism. Israel has done remarkable things to follow through on this promise, including daring rescues in Entebbe, Uganda, and absorbing Jews from Ethiopia and the Former Soviet Union.

So, what if Israel ceased to exist? With nine million people living there, where would they go? Some propose a multinational state for Jews and Arabs, but it’s unclear how Jews would fare absent the ability to protect themselves. (On the other hand, life for Palestinian Arabs in Israel is complex, but generally safe and even prosperous). It seems naive in the extreme to imagine that such a state is a pragmatic possibility.

The other option is that seven million or so Jews would have to leave. Where would they go? Here? Canada? Argentina? Either outcome would involve terrible violence to Jewish safety and identity. The elimination of the Jewish state would be a catastrophe akin to the destruction of the ancient Temples or the Holocaust. We would eventually survive and adapt, as we always have, but our people would never be the same. Over the last 2000 years, we accepted exile temporarily, thrived and persevered, but never gave up the dream of return. So, we would go back to dreaming.

Israel's national anthem expresses the longing for our homeland with the phrase - nefesh Yehudi Homiyah - the Jewish soul murmurs a yearning… In the scenario Levi asks about, we would resume hoping and praying, as our ancestors did, to once again realize our dream of self-determination - l’hiot am chofshi b’artzeinu - to be a free people in our homeland. As students of history, we know that this is required to bring true safety to Jews everywhere. Israel has already fulfilled this dream in so many respects. The next step is to fulfill our people's mandate as makers of peace. (The recent Abraham Accords indicate that progress is always possible, distant though it may feel.)

Every conflict is only a conflict until it isn’t.

Please God, let us build a world where Israel is secure and at peace with its neighbors.

I appreciate Levi’s question, and hope ardently that one day, no student will ever feel the need to ask it again.

Rabbi Danny Moss

President's Column - June 2024

A Journey from Hope to Gratitude

The first time I addressed you during the High Holidays of 2022, I spoke about hope. At that time, our congregation was navigating significant changes and challenges: we had a new Rabbi, were seeking anew cantor-educator, and managing a major construction project that tested us at every turn. Services were held in various locations, we were stressed about raising money for our capital campaign, and construction obstacles led to delays and increased costs.

Despite these challenges, I held on to hope.

Dear Friends,

Today, in my final Shofar column as your President, I want to speak about gratitude.

Gratitude is a central theme in Judaism. As it says in Deuteronomy, "When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.… Do not say to yourself, 'My power and the might of my own hand have gained me this wealth.' "

At TBT over the past two years, we have indeed "eaten our fill"((with record attendance at the Legacy / Chai member dinner, the Passover Seder, and the Gala), rebuilt our fine house (with a beautiful sanctuary), grown our flock (increased membership by 40 families in the last 2 years), and multiplied our silver and gold (continued success of our capital campaign). I do not say "my power has gained me this wealth." Instead, I say Toda Raba (Thank you very much) to my family, to my synagogue community, and to G-d.

We have so much to be grateful for. Our building stands as a testament to our resilience, and our growing membership and vibrant programs reflect our community's vitality. Our religious school is flourishing under our new temple educator, Ira Wise, and our preschool, under the direction of Jen Casillo, is full with happy, well-loved, playful children. Our teens are attending BBYO events in large numbers, our b'nei mitzvahs have been doing beautifully, and our Rabbi is busy teaching, singing, leading services, and providing pastoral care. Our Chesed Committee is providing meals to the sick, helping with Shivas, and giving rides to our congregants. Our Kulanu Committee has been leading efforts to engage both our community and the interfaith community in important conversations about antisemitism. Our Kesher groups are active, with eight different affinity groups involving 60 congregants. We had a new members brunch with over 40 attendees. And, we are about to celebrate TBT at our first annual gala. The health ofour synagogue is strong.

TBT is strong because of all of you. It has been incredible to see so many of you step up when I have asked you to volunteer your time, expertise, and money.

Thank you to those who joined the board, even when you didn't want to.

Thank you to those who chaired different programs, despite your hesitations. Thank you to those who worked hard on our security committee.

Thank you to our members who have served on our search committees. Thank you to our party planners and decorating gurus.

Thank you to our committee members who make our services spiritual and beautiful and our programming rich and relevant.

Thank you to our parents who help improve our religious school and our preschool.

Thank you for caring about each other and stepping up to be with each other at all of life's moments - joyful and painful.

And thank you to our amazing staff: Rabbi Moss, Ira Wise, Jen Casillo, Kim Romine, Chris Lancio, Herman Solivan, and our Preschool and Religious School Teachers. None of us would be here without you. Thank you for all you do.

I remember telling Al Goldberg, when he asked me to consider being president, that I couldn't because I knew nothing about finance or creating a temple budget. He replied that I didn’t need to know how to do each piece of the job; I just needed to surround myself with people who do. That was great advice, and I am so thankful to all of you who have made these two years successful. It is challenging to be a temple president, but it has also been fulfilling and joyful.

Gratitude fills my heart as I reflect on our journey together.

Our congregation embodies resilience, community, caring, and faith.
I am profoundly honored and thankful to have served as your president.

Karen Goldberg, Temple President

Temple Educator's Column - June 2024

Excerpt from Ira's TBT Annual Meeting Report

I want to thank the leadership, Rabbi Moss and the staff for putting your trust in me as Interim Director nine and a half months ago. I was told at the time that my main task was to bring a sense of stability and calm to the teachers, parents and students of our Religious School.

I am very proud of the work of our teachers and madrichim who were instrumental in bringing this goal to reality. While I could teach, lead and encourage them – they were the ones in the rooms with our children. They created meaningful and authentic experiences and made each child feel seen and heard…

As Temple Educator, it is my task to work with you – our members and leaders, the senior staff and our faculty – to determine how to move forward and take us to the next level of learning.

The first thing we have to ask ourselves is "Why Change?"

Research tells us that the unique experiences of each generation mold their views, wants, needs and expectations. Our sacred challenge is to figure out how to engage and inspire the younger generations without disenfranchising or disenchanting those who have been here for decades. And even better - to bring the older generations along on this joyous road.

Part of this challenge involves building the plane while the plane is in the air. We do not have the luxury of putting everything on pause while we sit down to flesh out where we are going. There will be Shabbat this weekend. There will be Religious School tomorrow and Sunday and again in September. And Preschool will march on.

Our first steps are around curriculum and pedagogy – the content and the methods of learning. Our current curriculum is built around a pre-packaged and purchased product that was originally designed to respond to the needs of using Zoom as the primary medium for learning. It is a good, but limited curriculum, especially as we have returned to being in the same spaces with our students.

Once we agree why we need to change, we need to decide where to begin.

We are taking a three-pronged approach. We will focus on
1) curriculum – what we learn,
2) pedagogy – how we teach or transmit the curriculum, and
3) communication – how we describe and tell the story of how youth learning happens at Temple Beth Tikvah.

In April, the Curriculum Working Group was convened by chair Lizzie Sharp. It is a group of fourteen people that includes professional educators, parents of future and current students as well as alumni, two religious school teachers and two teenagers.

The next question is what content What Should Be Learned? (Curriculum)

If a child attends our school from kindergarten through high school graduation, they will have approximately 900 hours of class time over 13 years. And most children, even those who love the experience and are encouraged by dedicated parents, attend far less than that. It’s a reality.

The other reality is that even in 900 hours we cannot squeeze in all the history and customs and language and tradition and community-building and… that we’d like. So decisions have to be made about what gets more attention and what gets less. These types of decisions can be made based on the experiences and expertise of our Temple Educator or dictated by an off-the-shelf curriculum, but to be truly effective the choices need to be made through careful reflection which incorporates Temple Beth Tikvah’s values and philosophies as well as a deep understanding of the needs and desires of our students and their parents.

Our learning goals will be framed by our temple’s mission: “Temple Beth Tikvah is a vibrant, inclusive Reform Jewish community, guided by Torah and interconnected through our traditions and values of tikkun hanefesh (enriching our lives) and tikkun olam (improving our world).”

The Curriculum Working Group is working to recommend a framework for the curriculum, the values and content that will be taught. I will use that process and product to develop the guidelines for teachers and determine the needed supplies and training for it to be implemented. This will be a staged process, with successive areas of the curriculum rolled out over the next 18 months. The Education Committee will be asked to adopt the recommendations as they are developed.

Second, it’s critical that we focus on How We Teach (Pedagogy)

I have been working with our teachers to expand their pedagogic toolboxes, with an intense focus on experiential learning. This refers to the deliberate infusion of Jewish values into engaging and memorable experiences that impact the formation of Jewish identity. The idea is to focus less on learning facts, dates and data – although we will still do that – and more on creating experiences that help our kids be hands-on with being Jewish.

We will continue to work on developing Experiential learning skills, and will expand our focus to include Social, Emotional and Spiritual learning goals – reaching inside the learners, trying to connect to their hearts and souls in addition to their minds.

Our third focus is on Communication – how we will describe how youth learning happens at Temple Beth Tikvah.

A separate working group will begin to meet in the fall to explore a name change for what we now call Religious School and how we tell our story. The name may change or it may not. Whatever we choose, we need to be able to articulate to ourselves as well as to those looking for a congregation what we are all about. And we want it to be something unique that speaks to how kids learn today.

We are about to celebrate Shavuot, which marks the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Every member of the children of Israel was there, regardless of gender or age. In Parshat Nitzavim, we are told “I make this covenant, with its sanctions, not with you alone, but both with those who are standing here with us this day before our God and with those who are not with us here this day.”

The rabbis interpreted this to mean that every member of Am Yisrael – the people of Israel – who would ever live was also there. Let me conclude by asking that we all stand at Sinai together.

We are looking for a few new teachers, and I invite you to consider joining our faculty or serving as a substitute.

Participate in one of our working groups or serve on the education committee which guides learning at TBT.

Pirkei Avot teaches that we are not required to complete the task, but we are not free to desist from it. A congregation of learners means we are all learners and teachers.

Join us.
Ira Wise

Temple Educator's Column - May 2024

Which Truth Do You Mean?

There has been a lot of talk about the truth – or lack of it – in the news. People talk about “the big lie” and disagree about a variety of events of the day. Seen from various perspectives, it is hard for many to believe that so many can disagree on what seems to be the plain truth, based on what we can all see with our own eyes. These are troubling ideas that are dividing us one from the other. I encourage everyone to try and imagine perspectives different from our own and remember they are held by members of our community, even our own families. We have to figure out how to move forward together. I am not going to discuss that here though.

This is not just a current events story. I cannot remember a year when a learner – sometimes and adult, sometimes a youth – has not asked me or one of the rabbis “Are the stories in the Torah true?” The answer to that question is another question: “What do you mean by true?” To be fair, my answer is different from the one you might get from an Orthodox teacher.

Until the mid-nineteenth century, nearly all Jewish thinkers and rabbis accepted that the Torah was written word for word, letter for letter by God – or at least dictated by God to Moses. So, the answer from the Orthodox perspective is “Yes. The Torah is true. It all happened.” There are of course many orthodoxies, not just one monolithic uniform movement. There is a fair amount of nuance that should be in that discussion. By and large, though, if the Torah is actually directly from God, then the Mitzvot are not just a good idea, they are the law.

From a Reform perspective, I suggest that there is truth and there is Truth. The first, with the lower case “t” refers to historical accuracy. Approximately 150 years ago, a number of biblical scholars – both Jewish and Christian – looked closely at the Hebrew text of the Torah. They noticed that in some sections, God was Elohim. In others, God was Adonai. There were several almost duplicated sections. In the midst of conversations between God and Moses, Aaron would simply appear and disappear. And the entire book of Deuteronomy seems to repeat much of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers – although many of the commandments are stricter in the second version.

The scholars concluded that there must have been more than one – at least four – different authors involved in the writing of the five books of Moses. This was called the Documentary Hypothesis. And if humans – even if Divinely inspired – wrote the words, then the Mitzvot become more or less guidelines for behavior. And this is the core difference between Reform and Orthodoxy (although there are others. Based on this, I would suggest that the Torah is not a great source of historical accuracy. I see it as our people’s record of how we perceive our origin stories.

I will say that I believe that the Torah is filled with Truth with an upper-case “T.” It teaches us how to be Jewish. It teaches us how to embrace what we have come to call Jewish values like Kehilah (community), Kavod (respect, honor), Kedushah (holiness), Savlanut (patience) and Sovlanut (tolerance), to name five out of dozens. It teaches us that we are each created in God’s image, so we must treat one another with the same respect we have for God.

My friend and teacher Joel Lurie Grishaver once taught me that he believes that the Torah was written by humans. And they wrote exactly what God wanted them to write. So that leaves it in our hands. Coming from a human source, we each get to choose how to be Jewish, which values to embrace. Coming from God, filtered through humans, we must remember that we must not choose “none of the above” when it comes to values. We can handle the Truth.

L’shalom,

Ira Wise

President's Column - May 2024

Dear TBT Family,

April was an extraordinary month for me as Temple Beth Tikvah's president, marked by both profound sorrow and joyful anticipation. As a community, we mourned the loss of two young people: gathering to pray, sit shiva, and share our grief. At the same time, we were hard at work planning our Community Seder and preparing for the 1st Annual Gala — a joyous occasion full of hope and excitement.

The month's events symbolized the duality of life, with its heartache and happiness, and highlight how Temple Beth Tikvah is our home through the highs and lows. It is a place where we come together for comfort and companionship during times of sadness, and for laughter and celebration during times of joy.

In moments of loss, we often say "Zichrono l'vracha," which means "may their memory be for blessing." This phrase carries deep significance within our tradition, offering a sense of comfort and hope as we navigate grief. This week I thought about why we say "for blessing", instead of “may their memory be a blessing.” The use of "for blessing" suggests that the memory of our loved ones has a future-oriented impact—it can inspire positive actions and encourage us to honor their legacy by continuing their good work. This week, as I reflected on the lives of Sara Koenigsberg and Josh Lipshutz, I thought about how their memory can inspire us to be better and do better. To their grieving families, I say, "May their memories be for blessing."

Despite the sadness we've felt, I am excited to invite you to our temple's First Annual Gala on June 1st. This event marks a significant step in our congregation's journey. Our new building is more than just a structure; it's a testament to our resilience and dedication. It's a place where we gather, as we did last month for b'nei mitzvahs, funerals, Shabbat services, our Chai/Legacy Dinner, Community Seder, and so much more. It's a space that will serve as a source of strength and community for generations to come.

The Gala will be a night to remember, filled with joy, connection, and celebration. We'll enjoy Havdalah, delicious food, music, dancing, and an auction. This is our chance to come together, make new memories, and celebrate Temple Beth Tikvah.

I look forward to seeing you all on June 1st.

Warm regards,

Karen Goldberg Temple Beth Tikvah President

Rabbi's Column - May 2024

Dear Friends,

During my college days, there was a slogan all over campus: “think one person can change the world? We do.” I loved these words because they reflected my institution’s history at the forefront of social change. In fact, college students have always made headlines for protests, marches, and civil disobedience. This

is how it should be. They are exploring their sense of right and wrong. They are expressing their voices as change agents.

Undoubtedly, there are many compassionate young people protesting in the tent encampments that have sprung up at universities throughout the United States. They are demonstrating for an end to the war in Gaza and for justice for Palestinians. And what decent person doesn’t want both of those things? They have seen the terrible images and grim statistics that we have all seen. We all want an

end to the suffering.

Unfortunately, these rallies are not always benign. My colleague Rabbi Ari Hart recently took a walk through the encampment at Northwestern University. Some of the signs and chants he encountered called for peace and an end to the fighting. Others were downright chilling: “Long live the Intifada!” “Hey hey, ho ho - Zionists have got to go.” And then there’s the ubiquitous slogan heard around the world, “from the river to the sea Palestine will be free.”

I wonder how many of these students know what river and what sea they are chanting about? If they do, do they think that the seven million Jews living there will simply pack up and leave? And what about the word ‘intifada’ — which means ‘shaking off ’ or ‘uprising’ — do they know that the second intifada consisted of hundreds of suicide bombings, sowing terror throughout Israel’s civilian centers? Do they know that that uprising began after Palestinian leadership rejected a two state peace deal that Israel agreed to?

Perhaps the most disturbing recent statement came from Khymani James, the organizer of the Columbia encampment, who said that “Zionists don’t have a right to live.”

Just let that sink in.

Zionism is simply the political movement for the freedom of the Jewish people. To reject that movement is to deny the Jewish right to safety and self-determination. It is a form of hatred. I wish I could comfortably advise our young people to speak up for the safety and self-determination of both Palestinians and Israelis in these protest spaces. But I do not know of any protest where such nuance would be accepted. Tragically, the protests have been poisoned by forces that would not end the war, but rather declare it anew— on the entire Jewish people. (“Globalize the Intifada?” The nefarious intent is hiding in plain sight.)

This messy morass reveals a failure of the American left. Intersectional justice work dictates that none can be free unless all are free. In too many of these protest spaces, that applies to everyone except for Jews.

(And by the way, how many of these students showed up to protest the brutality of the Rohingya Genocide or Syrian strongman Assad’s murder of thousands of Palestinians in his civil war? We could name dozens of other geopolitical conflicts that haven’t risen to encampment-protest-worthiness. That alone is reason for deep reflection.)

Many well-meaning young people attend these events because of the images in the news or an invitation from a friend. Many have absolutely no knowledge of this conflict or its history. Most are well-meaning.

Undoubtedly, some of these protesters are Jewish. I suspect that some of our own college students from TBT may be involved. We should listen to them. Many of them are driven by conscience. We should respect their right to free expression. But mass protests devoid of critical thinking are morally bankrupt and potentially very dangerous. The movement we are seeing today is not about peace. It is tainted by a zero-sum worldview that requires Palestinian liberation at the expense of Jewish safety. That is a false choice and one that makes Jews around the world less safe.

Oseh Shalom bimromav, hu ya’eseh shalom aleinu - v’al kol yoshvei teivel.

May peace yet prevail in our world.

Shalom,

Rabbi Moss

Rabbi's Column - April 2024

Dear Friends,

Do you know where the largest Pesach seder in the world takes place? I’ll give you a minute to guess for yourself — the answer will surprise you!

Pesach (Passover) ranks as one of the most widely observed Jewish Holidays. Even those who do not attend synagogue or otherwise practice Judaism often find themselves around the seder table, asking the four questions and speaking of our ancestors’ journey to redemption.

The story of the Exodus is so compelling because it touches on universal human themes: the triumph of good over evil, and the quest for freedom. For that reason, the Jewish freedom story has inspired freedom-seekers throughout history, including the 17th-century Pilgrims and enslaved Africans. When my grandfather was alive, he would love to hear Al Jolson sing Go Down Moses — an abolitionist protest song influenced by the plight of the Biblical Israelites. This year, many Jews will place an olive on their seder plates as an aspiration for the liberation of both Israelis and Palestinians.

In short, Pesach’s universal themes bring an ancient story to contemporary relevance, every year. Perhaps that is why it is so widely celebrated. And I am so glad that this year, TBT will be holding our community Seder for the first time since 2019! Because many folks travel or spend the first two nights with family, our seder will take place on the fifth night of Pesach: Friday, April 26th. Our Seder will be joyous, uplifting and fun for TBT folks from ages 0-120. I hope to see you and your family there. Because our wonderful planning committee needs to order the right amount of food and set up our space properly, we ask for all RSVPs no later than April 11th. (RSVP here) Further information about the seder can be found later in the Shofar.

It is so important for us to be together to share these stories, especially in a year like this. If you are in town for that Friday night, please join us. You will be glad you did.

Oh, and in case you still wanted to know: the largest Passover seder in the world takes place in Kathmandu, Nepal.

I wish you and your family a Chag Kasher V’Sameach (a happy Matzah-filled holiday),
Rabbi Danny Moss